Water Lentil, Lemna, Duckweed? Whatever You Call It, Here’s Why You Should Add It to Your Health Routine

Learn about our US-grown lemna, the smallest flowering plant in the world grown on still, fresh water and offering the highest quality plant protein.

HIGHEST QUALITY PLANT PROTEIN SOURCE

SUSTAINABLE & SECURE

INNOVATORS IN WATER LENTIL FARMING

SHOP OUR LION’S MANE MATCHA LATTE MIX MADE WITH AMERICAN-GROWN WATER LENTIL

Helping you integrate smarter foods into your wellness routine is our raison d’être at Landish. Smarter means better for your health and for the planet. Our Florida-farmed water lentil—also known as lemna or duckweed—perfectly reflects this mission.

What makes water lentils so attractive as an alternative source of nutrition? They contain the most complete, highest quality plant protein in existence, they’re incredibly micronutrient-dense, antioxidant-rich, and have a very small environmental footprint. For this reason, experts in sustainable agriculture are looking to water lentil farming as an important part of a vision for a more sustainable and secure food system.

WHAT ARE WATER LENTILS, EXACTLY

Lemna are the smallest flowering plant in the world and are naturally grown on still water, typically in tropical climates. Though small, the benefits of consuming this aquatic plant are anything but, as this superfood is both highly nutritious and sustainable.

Worry not digestively sensitive friends, despite the name “water lentils”, they have nothing to do with lentils, the legume, other than their lenticular shape. As a legume/FODMAP-challenged individual myself I, along with many of our like-tummy’d customers, can attest to the fact that digesting lemna is a real breeze (no, not that kind of breeze!).

HIGHEST QUALITY PLANT PROTEIN SOURCE

Water lentils are a complete protein and higher in amino acids and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) than any other plant source. With a PDCAAS (a measurement system used to evaluate food’s protein quality by comparing its amino acid composition to what our bodies can use) of 0.98/1, the protein quality of water lentils is comparable to eggs, whey protein and meat.

PACKED WITH MICRONUTRIENTS

Water lentils are also a source of vitamin B12, typically only found in animal sources, providing 750% of the daily value per 100 grams of dry plant. More importantly,the B12 in water lentils is bioactive, meaning it can be effectively absorbed and utilized by the body. If you’re a plant-based nutrition enthusiast, you might recognize this as incredible news!

Water lentil is also high in minerals, such as iron, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus, and is an excellent source of dietary fiber, powerful antioxidants and essential fatty acids, such as omega 3.

SUSTAINABLE & SECURE

What makes water lentils so incredibly sustainable is how much nutrition, including complete protein, they provide for how little resources and land they require to grow. Hear this:their weight doubles every 24 hours, allowing them to be harvested daily!

LESS WATER

Approximately 70% of the world’s available fresh water goes toward crops and raising livestock. Almost all of the water98%) used to produce our lemna is recycled during processing, meaning very little water is used per kilo produced compared to other crops and animal proteins.

LESS FOOD WASTE

Since 100% of the harvested biomass is used in the final product, water lentils produce very little food waste, an environmental issue that contributes to approximately 8% of GHGs emissions globally (according to the nonprofit organization Project Drawdown).

INNOVATORS IN WATER LENTIL FARMING

Water Lentil Innovation

Landish is super excited to be working with a Florida-based food startup that has revolutionized the growth and production of water lentils through a proprietary aqua-farming technology.

By transforming marginal, non-arable land into aquafarms housing hydroponic ponds, our partner grows water lentils without conflict with other crops or the use of pesticides or herbicides.

SHOP OUR LION’S MANE MATCHA LATTE MIX MADE WITH AMERICAN-GROWN WATER LENTIL

LION’S MANE MATCHA LATTE MIX

Did you know that water lentil tastes a lot like matcha? If you’re a matcha lover, then you’d definitely love our delicious, rich and creamy Lion's Mane Matcha Latte Mix, boosted with a healthy dose of water lentil for a source of protein, phytonutrients, and minerals.